Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
What follows is a brief look at all the games with how I'd react in my own lineups to injury developments or other news. The official rankings are the ones in the Weekly. Those are the ones that subscribers are paying for. Sometimes players are very close in the rankings, and if I get questions like that, I'll offer opinions. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries/weather issues, etc.
It's Week 17, and my leagues are done. But I'll probably do a daily league or two, and I'm interested in who makes the playoffs and who gets left out. Got a kid's birthday party to host this afternoon so I can't guarantee prompt responses to questions, but I'll get to them all eventually. OK let's go.
Packers at Lions: Green Bay has ruled basically everyone out for this game. Jamaal Williams will have a heavy, heavy workload against a soft run defense, so he's the critical start here. Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison and Michael Clark the only healthy receivers. I think Matthew Stafford and his main receivers should be pretty good, and although Golden Tate has disappointed lately, he's close enough to a 1,000-yard season that he might get a lot of work. No weather issues, which is nice.
Texans at Colts: Should be some points in this one. I guess some will start Frank Gore on the awareness he's 130 yards away from a 1,000-yard season, but the only time Gore has been anywhere near that total was in the Buffalo blizzard where passing was impossible and he carried it 40-plus times. So it doesn't seem likely. No DeAndre Hopkins, so tough to see Houston's offense doing much of anything. For the Colts there's T.Y. Hilton, and it'd be nice to see Chester Rogers do something, anything, since I'm using a dynasty spot on the guy only to see him do zip the last few weeks as the No. 2.
Bears at Vikings: If an offense does absolutely nothing this week, it will probably be Chicago. For Minnesota, there's potential, but my worry is the Vikings will go conservative and just win a lower-scoring game, something like 24-10 (or even lower). Probably won't be using Viking receivers this week.
Jets at Patriots: The fact that James Harrison signing with the Patriots after the Steelers released him is a story just shows how people can get worked up about anything. Big deal. Team releases a guy he's not supposed to peel up into the stands and wave a terrible towel from that point forward. As for this game. I have no interest in the Bryce Petty Jets. I know Bilal Powell had a big game last week, but he's still just one of three. For New England, I guess the starters will play some and work up a big lead before sitting. Uh, Gronkowski isn't catching 11 passes or going over 112 yards, he'll get his bonuses by being named first-team All-Pro. No Burkhead or Gillislee, so Dion Lewis should be good until they hurry him to the sideline. It's going to be really cold for this game, and I don't think anyone should be too high on the Patriots passing game in frigid conditions.
Washington at Giants: Giants were going to give Davis Webb some work, now they're saying it will be Eli Manning throughout. Whatever. It's going to be really cold and New York's main receivers will be Roger Lewis and Travis Rudolph. Should be cheap and see some targets, so there's that. For Washington, Doctson and Crowder and Vernon Davis get nice matchups with a lousy secondary. But could easily see the offense going into a freezing cold induced shell and just running Samaje Perine and seeing how quickly they can get this game over with. Bottom line: I'm favoring passing games in teams playing in warmer climates or domes.
Cowboys at Eagles: Doug Pederson says starters will start. I'm thinking a series or two, a quarter at most. Definitely would not use Ertz, Jeffery or Ajayi -- the important guys for the playoff lineup. Dallas, I don't see them caring much about this one either; nothing to gain by winning a road game in bitter cold against a team pulling starters early.
Browns at Steelers: Pittsburgh is apparently holding out Roethlisberger and Bell. They're going to feel pretty silly if New England somehow loses to the Jets. I realize it won't happen, but still. So it's Landry Jones passing to Smith-Schuster, Bryant and Rogers, although Justin Hunter is another possibility -- can we be confident Smith-Schuster plays throughout? I'm not. It will be cold and possibly snowy. OK situation for Cleveland running backs. Their receivers are catching passes from DeShone Kizer and being put in position not to succeed by Hue Jackson, that's the negative.
Panthers at Falcons: Hey, it's meaningful game played in a dome! My interest is stirred. I like the players here, these guys are on my short list of Week 17 starters. If Carolina gets down, or New Orleans is up in its game, maybe the Panthers give an early seat to Newton, McCaffrey, Olsen and Funchess -- that's the worry with Carolina.
Bengals at Ravens: Another cold game, and another lousy offense matched up with a good defense. Ravens need to win, so I'll sign off on Alex Collins. Bengals, it's not certain which running back will be available. Probably Bernard, but may not be certain until tomorrow morning. Would be more appealing to use Bernard if Mixon inactive, obviously.
Bills at Dolphins: I haven't paid attention to exactly what the Bills need to get into the playoffs. I know it'd be much better if the Ravens and Chargers are playing games next week than the Titans and Bills. For this game, LeSean McCoy should be good, and sounds like Damien Williams won't play. Jay Cutler won't care. Kenyan Drake should be busy and I guess Miami's wideouts have value. Kelvin Benjamin will be hoofing around and has some red-zone appeal. Charles Clay too.
Saints at Bucs: Saints need to win, so I like all of them. Bucs offense has been productive lately, so they might be OK, too. It's in Florida and there's some talent on offense for both teams. Two conflicting stories out yesterday, one suggesting Jon Gruden was going to come back and coach the Bucs, the other saying Dirk Koetter was coming back for another year. Hasn't Gruden been away long enough that it's over? Surely.
Jaguars at Titans: Hard to be sure how the Jaguars will play this. They say they'll play to win, and the Chargers and NFL fans everywhere would thank them if they could keep the Titans out of the playoffs, but we probably won't be so lucky. DeMarco Murray has been ruled out (turns out playing on a torn MCL isn't possible for a running back, how about that) so Derrick Henry should be great. Guess we'll probably get Tennessee going to Jacksonville in the playoffs next week, and read all the stories about how hard it is to beat a team three times in one season before they get crushed.
Kansas City at Broncos: Some of these games you just wonder if they could do us all a favor and just not play them at all. Maybe have a computer similation of what it will be like with Patrick Mahomes and Akeem Hunt facing off with Paxton Lynch and company. Kansas City shouldn't be playing anyone of note in this game, Denver shouldn't be doing much of note. I guess the running backs will be of interest, although plenty of possibilities for both teams. Charcandrick West might not play, Broncos you would think would want to give work to youngsters like DeAngelo Henderson. Best avoided I think.
Raiders at Chargers: Big game for the Chargers, although the emotion should go out of things when the Titans go up 14-0 against Jacksonville. Melvin Gordon hopes to play; I wouldn't use him. Chargers passing game seems better, but it's been putting up modest numbers the last two weeks anyway. And the out of town scoreboard probably won't be encouraging. Raiders should have their main wideouts available against a tough secondary. Betting on Derek Carr this season hasn't worked out too well.
49ers at Rams: Rams are holding out pretty much everyone. Malcolm Brown should be the main running back, the wideouts will be Austin and Thomas and Reynolds. Much better to invest in the 49ers, who are winning December, whoohoo! Marquise Goodwin has a chance at a 1,ooo-yard season, they should help him get there.
Cardinals at Seahawks: Seattle making the playoffs seems a little more likely than the Chargers getting in -- Carolina winning in Atlanta is certainly possible. I think Seattle will put up good passing numbers (though I also thought that against Dallas last week...), probably not running. Maybe Arizona will be interested in knocking Seattle out and finishing 8-8. They'll definitely be interested in getting the ball to Larry Fitzgerald.
And that's it; when next we speak it will be to forecast the playoffs. Good luck if Week 17 has meaning for you. Happy New Year to all. Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson